Boston Scientific Sees Unusually High Options Volume (NYSE:BSX)

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX) was the target of some unusual options trading on Tuesday. Stock traders purchased 111,780 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of 661% compared to the average daily volume of 14,694 call options.

Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific

In related news, Director Ellen M. Zane sold 12,891 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.28, for a total value of $1,266,927.48. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 24,134 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,371,889.52. This represents a 34.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 17,313 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.55, for a total transaction of $1,758,135.15. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 23,600 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,396,580. This represents a 42.32% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 93,095 shares of company stock valued at $9,305,450 in the last ninety days. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Boston Scientific

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Steph & Co. acquired a new stake in Boston Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Financial Consulate Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific during the third quarter worth $25,000. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 200.0% during the third quarter. Murphy & Mullick Capital Management Corp now owns 255 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 170 shares during the period. FWL Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the second quarter worth $26,000. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 90.9% in the second quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 252 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 120 shares during the period. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Boston Scientific Price Performance

BSX stock opened at $91.74 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $136.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 49.06, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $96.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $100.01. Boston Scientific has a 1 year low of $85.98 and a 1 year high of $109.50.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, October 22nd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.71 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $5.07 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $4.97 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 14.43% and a return on equity of 19.46%. The company’s revenue was up 20.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.63 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Boston Scientific will post 2.85 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BSX has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Boston Scientific from $133.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and set a $112.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a research note on Friday, January 9th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on Boston Scientific from $123.00 to $128.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Erste Group Bank cut Boston Scientific from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price target on Boston Scientific from $125.00 to $100.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, January 16th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nineteen have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Boston Scientific presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $123.89.

Boston Scientific Company Profile

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) is a global medical device company that develops, manufactures and markets a broad portfolio of products used in less-invasive medical procedures. Founded in 1979 by John Abele and Peter Nicholas, the company is headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and focuses on technologies that enable physicians to treat a wide range of cardiovascular, digestive, urologic, pulmonary and chronic pain conditions without open surgery.

Boston Scientific’s activities span product development, clinical research, regulatory affairs and commercial sales.